236 
1771. 
December. 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
Notwithftanding what has been fo repeatedly 
reported of thofe animals affembling in great bo- — 
dies, and jointly erecting large towns, cities, and _ 
commonwealths, as they have fometimes been 
called, I am confident, from many circumftances, _ 
that even where the greateft numbers of beaver _ 
are fituated in the neighbourhood of each other, 
their labours are not carried on jointly in the — 
erection of their different habitations, nor have 
they any reciprocal intereft, except it be fuch as 
live immediately under the fame roof ; and then 
it extends no farther than to build or keepadam © 
which is common to feveral houfes. In fuchca- | 
fes it is natural to think that every one whore- 
ceives benefit from fuch dams, fhould affift in ere@t- 
ing it, being fenfible of its utility to all. | 
Perfons who attempt to take beaver in Winter | 
fhould be thoroughly acquainted with their man- — 
ner of life, otherwife they will have endlefs trou- | 
ble to effect their purpofe, and probably with- — 
out fuccefs in the end; becaufe they have always — 
a number of holes in the banks, which ferve them 
as places of retreat when any injury 1s offered to 
their houfes; and in general it is in thofe holes 
that they are taken. 
When the beaver which are fituated in a fmall 
river or creek are to be taken, the Indians fome- 
times find it neceflary to fiake the river acrofs, 
to prevent them from pafling ; after which, they 
endeavour to find out all their holes or places of 
retreat in the banks. This requires much prac- 
tice 
